Research Paper

Laila Esquivel

Mr. Skipper

Encounters 8

March 7, 2023

The Middle Of The Monarch Ending 

Introduction

Monarchs might seem pretty and healthy butterflies but in reality, they are facing a huge threat of extinction. Saving monarch butterflies is important because it helps with the possible ecological factors, educational factors, and positive inspirational factors. Monarch butterflies are very important species to the world as well. They have a unique relationship with humans and the environment. They are significant pollinators, for example, they are essential to the health of ecological communities by providing food for other animals and people. Their ability to spread pollen from plant to plant makes it “possible for blueberries, squash and other foods to grow” (Lerner). Monarch butterflies are also a largely known species that many people find beautiful. They are a part of the aesthetic beauty of nature. It would be a shame to watch these butterflies go extinct. As result, it is essential that we do our part and everything thing we can to ensure their survival and prevent them from going extinct. 

Description

The “Danaus Plexippus”, well-known as the Monarch Butterfly, is one of the most beautiful creatures on earth. They are “large and brilliantly-colored” and are also the most recognizable of all butterfly species. Their wings are a “deep orange with black borders and veins, and white spots along the edges” and have a wingspan of seven to ten centimeters. The bright orange color of the butterfly helps warn the predators away. The male and female monarch butterflies are similar in appearance but have a few differences. The male monarch butterfly is bigger and has two black scent spots in the center of its hind wings which females do not have. These marks tend to help males find female partners. One thing that females have that males lack is that they have thicker wing veins. Monarch butterflies have gorgeous colors and a unique design that humans enjoy (Monarch Butterfly, The National Wildlife Federation).

Habitat

Monarch butterflies are mostly found spread across North America. They are native to North and South America but currently, they are rarely found in South America. The monarchs in North America are divided into two populations which are the western monarchs and the eastern monarchs separated by the Rocky Mountains. (Monarch Butterfly, The National Wildlife Federation). There could also be populations “in Hawaii; Portugal and Spain; and Australia, New Zealand, and elsewhere in Oceania.” 

 In the summer and spring, monarch butterflies are mainly found in meadows and grasslands where milkweed grows. Still, in the winter they can be found either in southern California or in Central Mexico (Monarch Butterfly - Danaus plexippus). The habitat of monarch butterflies is now facing dangers due to climate change. These changes in climate had developed into more rainfall. Both the wet and cold together are deadly and it has made an excessive amount of butterflies die. They struggle with these weather conditions because if their wings are soaked in rain, they are not able to fly to keep from freezing to death. Also, their “winter habitat in Mexico and California is rapidly shrinking due to deforestation, harsh weather, development and other disruptions.” (Pollinators- Monarch Butterfly). Monarchs are striving to find the perfect habitat but with the many changes in climate, it is very difficult to do.

Food

As caterpillars, monarchs mostly feed on the leaves of milkweed. Monarchs rely on milkweed to “complete their life cycle”. Milkweed contains toxins that are used to scare off predators. Over time, monarchs have learned to not only tolerate it but use it as an advantage to help them. While caterpillars consume milkweed, they save these germs and infections in their body. They do this to make themselves taste unpleasant and bad to predators. These toxins stay stored in their body even after transforming to protect them as adult monarchs too. (Monarch Butterfly, The National Wildlife Federation) Unlike the larvae that only eat milkweed, adult monarchs feed on nectar from different flowers including milkweed. These flowers contain sugars and other nutrients. Monarch butterflies migrate alone and they will travel a far distance to try a different variety of flowers. They drink the plants nectar using a tube similar to a straw called a proboscis. This flexible and long tube is placed under their head and curled up when they aren't feeding. Monarchs have some enemies which conclude spiders, fire ants, etc. Adult monarch butterflies are also prey to birds and wasps. In addition, monarchs can die from parasites called parasitoids as well. Like humans, monarchs can grow an extensive disease or virus that can cause them to get ill and most likely die. (Enemies of Monarchs)

Issues

Monarch butterflies are one of the most iconic and beautiful species. Unfortunately, the population of monarch butterflies is rapidly declining due to a variety of factors. Many people do not realize how much they are struggling to survive and remain alive. Factors like habitat destruction, climate change, and pesticide use are all contributing to the decrease in the Monarch population. They are being threatened by pesticides that release toxins that kill milkweed plants. This is very bad since monarchs rely on this for food and to protect themselves from predators.  (Saving The Monarch Butterfly). Climate change is also another reason why the monarch butterfly population has decreased. Severe weather causes many problems for them such as drought because it “limits the growth of milkweed and increases the frequency of catastrophic wildfires” (Migratory monarch butterfly now Endangered). The monarch population has now gone down by a huge percentage. It has declined between 22% and 72% over the past decade. The western population has the most risk of becoming extinct (Monarch butterfly is added to the international threatened species list). Captive breeding is also an aspect of this issue. Captive breeding involves taking adult monarchs into captivity and breeding them in a controlled environment to produce hundreds or thousands of monarch butterflies. Although captive breeding of monarchs offers certain advantages, many issues exist. One issue with the captive breeding of monarchs is that continuous parenting over multiple generations can cut down genetic diversity. This could slow their ability to adapt to environmental changes and have terrible effects on wild monarch populations. Another problem is that this can include the spreading of parasites which could lead to unhealthy monarchs being released into the wild that could struggle to survive in their natural habitat. This could make many healthy monarchs become ill and fight to stay alive (Pelton). 

Conclusion

Monarchs are beautiful creatures that are a significant part of the ecosystem. They are important pollinators, playing a required role in the growth of plants and other organisms. However, their numbers have been rapidly declining over the last few decades, primarily due to deforestation, climate change, and other human-caused factors. It is therefore essential that we work to preserve the Monarch and their habitats in order to maintain a healthy balance in the ecosystem. A way people are helping to prevent them from going extinct is by participating in the National National Wildlife Federation's Garden for Wildlife program by “planting a pesticide-free monarch habitat garden filled with native milkweed and nectar plants” (Monarch Butterfly, The National Wildlife Federation). An also effective way to help monarch butterflies is to plant milkweed in your garden. Monarch experts say “swamp milkweed is an attractive, easy-to-grow variety native to all” which can help them. Another way to help is to plant flowers in your area so that adult monarchs can consume nectar (Einhorn). Public recognition also encourages people to “better manage land for pollinators, replenish milkweed, raise awareness, and gather new scientific evidence to better understand monarchs” (Monarch Butterfly, National Geographic). We know that monarch butterflies are a very unique and important species which is why it is very important we do everything we can to help monarch butterflies remain alive and thrive. 

Works Cited

Einhorn, Catrin. “Monarch Butterflies Are Endangered, Leading Wildlife Monitor Says.” The New York Times, 21 July 2022, www.nytimes.com/2022/07/21/climate/monarch-butterflies-endangered-iucn.html.

“Enemies of Monarchs.” Project Monarch Health, https://www.monarchparasites.org/monarch-enemies#:~:text=Monarchs%20have%20many%20natural%20enemies,live%20inside%20the%20monarchs'%20bodies.

Lerner, Shanti. “Monarch Butterflies are endangered. Your Arizona garden can help save them. Here's how.” The Arizona Republic, 29 July, 2022, https://www.azcentral.com/story/travel/arizona/2022/07/29/monarch-butterfly-facts-life-span-habitat/10164160002/

“Monarch Butterfly- Danaus Plexippus.” Nature Works,

nhpbs.org/natureworks/monarch.htm#3

“Monarch Butterfly.” National Geographic, www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/invertebrates/facts/monarch- butterfly.

“Monarch Butterfly.” The National Wildlife Federation, www.nwf.org/Educational-Resources/Wildlife-Guide/Invertebrates/Monarch-Butterfly.

Pelton, Emma. “Keep monarchs wild: Why captive rearing isn't the way to help monarchs.” Xerces Society, xerces.org/blog/keep-monarchs-wild

Newburger, Emma. “Monarch butterfly is added to the international threatened species list.” CNBC, 21 July 2022, www.cnbc.com/2022/07/21/monarch-butterfly-added-to-iucn-red-list-of-threatened-species.html.

Pelton, Emma. “Keep monarchs wild: Why captive rearing isn't the way to help monarchs.” Xerces Society, xerces.org/blog/keep-monarchs-wild

“Pollinators-Monarch butterfly.” National Park Service, 5 June 2017, www.nps.gov/articles/monarch-butterfly.htm

“Question and Answer.” MJV News RSS, 2023,  monarchjointventure.org/faq/why-is-the-monarch-population-decline-important